Independent Is Running For Pa. 9th District Seat

Karen Ramsburg Karen Ramsburg, a nurse and mother from Mercersburg, announced Friday that she is running for the Pennsylvania 9th District seat now held by. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Hollidaysburg).

Describing herself as an activist and the author of the recently published book, “Smith Rebellion 1765 Gives Rise to Modern Politics,” Ramsburg is running as an independent candidate. She announced her bid for Shuster’s seat in front of the Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg.

“For the last 40 years we have been represented by the same family in the 9th District of Pennsylvania, which sounds more like a governing aristocracy rather than a democracy. When your rule becomes a guarantee of privilege, you begin to take your constituents for granted.”

Ramsburg told the small crowd that gathered to hear her speak that America needed to open its eyes to its coin-operated political system.

“For the past 30 years we have had declining middle-class income, rising unemployment, failing schools, a failing healthcare system, and an increasingly changing climate. This was not created by big or small government, by Republicans or Democrats; it was created by the shortsighted belief that profits were more important than people.”

According to her Web site, Ramsburg believes that strength as a nation lies in solving issues of safety and security for all citizens. These issues are creating good paying jobs with a future, affordable healthcare for everyone, clean air and water and a sustainable energy future and providing our children with the tools they need to compete in today’s global economy.

She says she is running as an independent because neither party is working for 99 percent of Americans.

Shuster has served in the House since 2001. In 2010, he captured 73.1 percent of the vote in a race against challenger Tom Connors, a Blair County Democrat.